Vending machine



Jan. 4, 1944. .1. KING VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19., 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Juuus KING INVENTOR IBM M ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1944. J. KING 2,338,335

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1941 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JULIUS KING INVENTOR 3 ATTO R N EY Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a match book vending machine wherein a rotatable magazine comprising a plurality of columns of stacked articles is periodically given a partial rotation, the vending machine comprising means for ejecting a plurality of the said match books or like articles from successive columns in the said magazine, whereby the columns are in an equally depleted state at all times,

An object of this invention is to place all the actuating mechanism below the magazine so as to permit utilization of the entire outer circumferential area of the magazine and to increase the capacity of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide columns having U-shaped lower extensions for supporting the stacked articles, while providing transverse passages through the said U-shaped extensions through which a plurality of the stacked articles are ejected from successive columns upon a chute.

Another object of this invention is to provide metal weights having a height greater than the height of the transverse ejecting passages so that when the magazine is empty, any attempt to actuate the ejector arm will only cause the weight to be forced against the rear wall of a column and prevent complete inward movement of the coin-controlled slide and thus preventing the loss of coin into a coin collection box when the vending machine is empty.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable ejector whereby the height of the ejector may be changed to correspond to the height of the number of articles to be ejected, and so that the machine disclosed herein may be set to eject one or more articles of the desired thickness for a single coin.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vending machine, the section being taken as on line I--| in Figure 2 and showing an integral top cover plate and door broken away.

Figure 2 is a top view, with the top cover plate and door removed.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, .the section being taken as on line 33 in Figure 1, showing the actuating mechanism below the magazine, the columns being omitted.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a latch bolt on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is an end view of a tiltable pawl and a coin-controlled slide plate onan enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a side view of a vertically adjustable elector.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 indicates a vending machine particularly designed for dispensing match books. The machine comprises a casing II having centrally disposed therein a hollow vertical shaft I2, the lower end of which is supported on a plate l3 fixed to the bottom l4 of the casing I I. The upper end of the shaft I2 is releasably retained by engagement with a pivot l5 in the cover plate l6 which is removably positioned over the top of the casing ll,

Secured to the shaft l2, such as by means of a spider I1 is a magazine l8 having a plurality of closely positioned vertical columns l9 of rectangular cross-section and arranged in side by side relation around the circumference of the magazine. Each of the columns I!) has its outer side at the periphery of the magazine, vertically slotted at 20 for convenience in filling the magazine.

Each of the columns l9 has a substantially U- shaped extension 2| at its lower end, the extension being narrower than the radial dimension of a column and being positioned adjacent the inner wall 22 of the column.

The extension 2|. forms a bottom wall for the column so that the match books to be dispensed may be supported therein and stacked to'the .top' of the column- I The adjacent columns I!) are connected and firmly held together by means of tubes 23 extending from disks 24 which are fixed tothe shaft l2 at points substantially intermediate the ends thereof and form upper and lower spiders l1.

An arm 25, is pivotally mounted on a stud 26 threaded in a horizontal bracket 21 which is fixed to the casing II. The bracket Z'Ihas an integral vertically extended lug 28 serving as a stop which limits the swinging movements of the arm 25 in the direction of the shaft l2.

The free end of the arm 25 carries an ejector 30 of rectangular form and of a height to permit swinging motion through one of the transverse passages 3| formed above one of the U-shaped extensions 2|, best shown in Figure 1.

A coil spring 32 has one end secured to th arm 25 and the other secured to the bracket 2'! and urges the arm 25 and the ejector 3i] away from one of the columns and out of the rotary path of the magazine I8.

An inclined chute 35 is secured in the casing II below the magazine I8 and passes through a discharge opening (not shown) at one side of the front wall 37 of the casing. The chute 35 is positioned in alinement with a transverse discharge passage at the bottom of at least one of the columns I9.

A notched or toothed wheel it! is secured to the shaft I 2, slightly above the bottom plate I3. The notches 4| are circumferentially spaced to provide a number of notches equal to the number of columns. The notches are substantially V- shaped and ar positioned in radial directions on the wheel w. A spring-pressed latch bolt 42 having a V-shaped end 43 is slidably mounted in a radial direction so as to enter into resilient engagement with a potch M, the notched wheel 40 being adjusted on the shaft I2 so as to retain the magazine I8 with one of the columns I9 normally in alinement with the chute 35 and with its transverse opening 3| in alinement with the ejector 30. The magazine may thus be given partial rotations to bring successive columns into alinement with the ejector, the latch bolt 42 riding on the outer periphery of the wheel 48 and enters successive notches d I.

As best shown in Figure 4, on an enlarged scale, the latch bolt 42 has through slots M at its end portions. The slots provide passage therethrough for pins 45 which are secured in the bottom of the casing. A coil spring 46 is fastened at one end to one of the pins 35 and at the other end to a pin 4! fixed to the upper surface of the latch bolt 62 and serves to press the v-shaped end 43 of the latch bolt into resilient engagement with the notched wheel 40.

1A ratchet wheel 56 is secured to the shaft I2 in spaced relation above the notched wheel 40. The ratchet wheel 52} has teeth 5! equal in number t the number of columns 19. Each tooth has a radially positioned side and an inclined side, as best shown in Figure 3.

A coin-controlled mechanism 55 is secured in any suitable manner to the casing I I. The mechanism 55 comprises a slide 5% having a coin-receiving aperture 51. Secured to the slide 55 is a resiliently mounted pawl 58 which, as best shown in Figure 5, is adapted to swing sideways away from the ratchet teeth when moved inwardly and clears two of said teeth. When the said slide is withdrawn, the tiltable pawl enfgage's the ratchet teeth and rotates the magazine a distance corresponding to the distance between two successive columns.

The pawl 58 is pivotally mounted on a pin 59 in a bracket 69 fixed to the slide 56-. A spring 6 I fixed to the bracket till presses against a side wall of the pawl and forces it against a fixed upright wall 52 of the bracket 65!. The pawl is thus adapted to swing away from the wall 62 and away from the ratchet teeth 5i against the tension of the spring SI. pawl is of triangular form, with the apex of the triangle facing the teeth 55.

The slide 56 has an upwardly extending post 65 which is positioned to contact an outer Wall 66 of the ejector so on its inward movement and swings the ejector a distance sufiicient for re moving a number of match books from the lower end of the column I5 A spring 51 interposed between the inner end of the slide 56 and a wall of the casing II serves as a means for automatically returning the said slide to its normal position, as best shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1 the match books I0 which are made of substantially triangular form are stacked successively with a small sized end superimposed over a large sized end so as to have the top match book substantially level. Each column has an individual metal weight II which facilie tates the downward movement of the stacked match books as they are withdrawn at the bottom of the stack. It is to be noted that the height of the weights II is greater than the height of the ejecting passage 3I at the bottom The upper portion of the of a column and that the weights in lowermost positions form a bar to the passage of the ejector through the transverse passages and prevent the complete inward movement of the slide member when the dispensing machine is empty. This arrangement prevents the loss of a coin to the consumer in the event the columns of the magazine are empty.

It is to be noted that the cover plate I6 has an integral side wall I6 which when removed from the casing provides access from the top and from the side of the columns as they face th open side of the casing.

As shown in Figure 6, I have provided a modified ejector 30' which may be adjusted in a vertical direction so that its height may be changed to correspond to the height of the number of articles to be ejected from the successive columns. For this purpose, the ejector 30' is made of two relatively slidable members I2, I3. The arm 25 has an angular end wall I4 and a screw I5 threaded therein. The ejector member I2 has a lower slot I6 through which the screw I5 passes and by which the member I2 may be adjusted vertically in relation to the arm 25. The member I2 also has an upper slot 11 through which passes a screw I8 threaded into the ejector member I3 and by means of which the member I3 may also be adjusted vertically. It is thus possible to adjust both ejector members I2, I3 in vertical directions so as to make the overall height of the ejector 30' to correspond to the height of the number of articles. it is desired to be ejected in a single operation.

It is to benoted that while I have shown the transverse passages 3| as corresponding to the combined height of two matchbooks when placed with the small end superimposed over a large sized end, that I may make the height of the said passage to correspond to the maximum total height of four match books, etc. as desired and to adjust the ejector 30' to eject a larger number of match books.

It is to be noted that the upper surface of the ejector is a flat level plane and that this level surface acts as a substantially fixed support for the remainder of the match books above those be.- ing ejected until the ejection is complete, when the outward swing of the ejector will permit the remaining match books to drop to the bottom or supporting surface of the column.

The coin-controlled mechanism is well known in the art and may be in the form shown in Patent No. 2,031,160.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended c aims. I

I claim:

1. In a plural column mechanism for dispensing match books and like articles and for main- 'said' columns having a U-shaped extension for supporting said stacked articles and providinga transverse passage at its lower end, an arm pivotally mounted to swing horizontally below said magazine and having an ejector positioned for movement through one of said respective transverse passages for removing a plurality of said stacked articles from a column in said magazine, a spring urging said arm away from said column, latch means in operative engagement with said axle for retaining said magazine with one of said columns normally in alinement with said chute and with its transverse opening in alinement with said ejector, a ratchet wheel on said axle, a slide member having a tiltable resilient detent adapted to move away from one of said ratchet wheel teeth on its inward movement and to engage a ratchet tooth and rotate said ratchet wheel and said magazine on its outward movement for moving said stacked columns successively into alinement with said chute, said slide member having an upwardly extending post adapted to swing said ejector into article removing position, and a spring secured to said slide member for returning said slide member to its normal operating position outside said casing and for automatically rotating said magazine during said return movement to bring another of said columns into article ejecting position.

2. In a plural column mechanism for dispensing match books and like articles and for maintaining all of said columns in an equally depleted state, a casing having a base, an inclined chute above said base, said casing having a discharge opening at the lower end of one of its walls and in alinement with said chute, a magazine rotatably supported by an axle mounted upright on said base, said magazine having a plurality of columns each arranged to support a stack of articles in upright position to be dispensed, each of said columns having a U-shaped extension at its lower end for supporting said stacked articles and providing a transverse passage at said'lower end, said extension forming a bottom wall for said column and being of less width than the radial extent of said column, an arm pivotally mounted to swing horizontally below said magazine and having an ejector positioned for movement through one of said respective transverse passages for removing a plurality of stacked articles from a column in said magazine, aspring urging said arm away from said column, latch means in operative engagement with said axle for retaining said magazine with one of said columns normally in alinement with said chute and with its transverse opening in alinement with said ejector, a ratchet wheel on said axle, a slide memoer having a tiltable resilient detent adapted to move away from one of said ratchet wheel teeth on its inward movement and to engage a ratchet tooth and rotate said ratchet Wheel and said magazine on its outward movement for moving said stacked columns successively into alinement with said chute, said slide member having an upwardly extending post adapted to swing said ejector into article removing position, and a spring secured to said slide member for returning said slide member to its normal operating position outside said casing and for automatically rotating said magazine during said return movement to bring another of said columns into article ejecting position 3. In a plural column mechanism for dispensing match books and like articles and for maintaining all of said columns in an equally depleted state, a casing having a base, an inclined chute above said base, said casing having a discharge opening at the lower end of one of its walls and in alinement with said chute, a magazine rotatably supported by an axle mounted upright on said base, said magazine having a plurality of columns each arranged to support a stack of articles in upright position to be dispensed, each of said columns having a U-shaped extension at its lower end for supporting said stacked articles and providing a transverse passage at said lower end, said extension forming a bottom wall for said column and being of less width than the radial extent of said column, an arm pivotally mounted to swing horizontally below said magazine and having an ejector positioned for movement through one of said respective transverse passages for removing a plurality of stacked articles from a column in said magazine to said chute, a spring urging said arm and ejector away from said column, spring-pressed latch means in operative engagement with a toothed wheel on said axle for retaining said magazine with one of said columns normally in alinement with said chute and with its transverse opening in alinement with said ejector, a ratchet wheel secured to said axle above said toothed wheel, a slide member having operatively connected thereto a tiltable resilient detent adapted to move away from said ratchet wheel teeth on its inward movement and to engage a ratchet tooth and rotate said ratchet wheel and said magazine on its outward movement for moving one of said stacked columns into alinement with said chute, said slide member having an upwardly extending post adapted on the inward movement of said slide member to swing said ejector into article removing position, and means for automatically returning said slide member to its normal operating position outside said casing and for automatically rotating said magazine during said return movement to bring another of said columns into article ejecting position.

4. In a plural column mechanism of the coin controlled type for dispensing match books and like articles and for maintaining all of said columns in an equally depleted state, a casing having a base and an inclined chute, a magazine rotatably supported by an axle mounted upright on said base, said magazine having a plurality of columns each arranged to support a stack of articles in upright position to be dispensed, each of said columns having a U-shaped extension at its lower end for supporting said stacked articles and providing a transverse passage at said lower end, said extension forming a bottom wall for said column and being of less width than the radial extent of said column, an arm pivotally mounted to swing horizontally below said magazine and having an ejector positioned for movement through one of said respective transverse passages for removing a plurality of stacked bookform articles z1toom.-:a@co1umn iin'said magazine to said chute, a spring urging-said arm and ejeotorawayfrom-said eolumn, spring-pressed latch means in operative engagement with a toothed wheel onsaid axle for "retaining said magazine with one of said columns -:normally in alinement with said ejector, a ratchet wheel secured to said axle above said rtojothedwheel, a slide member having operatively "connected thereto a resilient detent adapted to move away from said ratchet Wheel on its inward movement and to engage a ratchet tooth and rotatesaid ratchet and said magazine on its outward movement for moving one of said stacked @columnsinto alinement with said chute, said slide member having a post adapted on the inward movement of said slide member to cause actuation of said ejector into article removing posiventing the complete inward movement of said slide member when said dispensing machine is .15 empty.

JULIUS KING. 

